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Tonya Papanikolas reporting City officials are hoping new office buildings, retail areas and housing will once again help bring more people downtown.
There was a time when Main Street and downtown Salt Lake were a vibrant and active part of the city. 80 years ago, downtown was the place to be. Everyone would gather here. That's what the LDS church is hoping will happen again.
In the 1920s, downtown Salt Lake was a hub of activity.
Philip Notarianni, Utah State Historical Society: "It was where all the businesses were, where people came to do their business."
Trolley cars connected people in the avenues to the heart of the city, making it very accessible.
In the 50s, downtown became even more popular - people would dress up for a night on the town, or head in to shop.
Philip: "We'd take the bus from magna to go in to shop in downtown salt lake because the big Penneys store was there."
But as people moved to the suburbs, things changed. By the early 70s, Salt Lake officials knew they needed to refocus their energy into revitalization. So they began to build.
1973: Fred Ball, VP Chamber of Commerce: "At last, we're finally getting a skyline."
The newly built Salt Palace instilled new breath in the city. Soon, other businesses moved in.
The LDS church office building became the tallest in the state. JC Penney built offices downtown. Construction began on the Beneficial life tower and ZCMI mall.
Ted Wilson, Former Salt Lake mayor: "At the time, that was what you wanted. People really wanted to be in enclosed malls."
But those ideals have changed, as the LDS church's plans for downtown move the city in a different direction.
Ted Wilson, Former Salt Lake mayor: "Now I think you have a younger generation that wants to be outside more, wants ambience, wants housing close."
Former Salt Lake mayor Ted Wilson says the city keeps moving forward to fit the demands of the time. He believes these latest plans will propel the city's growth for decades.
Ted Wilson, Former Salt Lake mayor: "I think we've projected the city into another century."
In the 20s, there weren't a lot of residential areas downtown; that is definitely changing. The historical society director told me he believes that is what is going to give downtown its vibrancy again.
